Composition for match-heads



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. FAIBBUBN, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 'IHE DIAMOND.

MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'comrosrrron ron MATCH-HEADS.

No Drawing.

To allw mz't ma concern:

Be it own t at I, WILLIAM A. FAIR- BURN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Short Hills in the county of Essex and State of New dersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compositions for Match-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to compositions for match heads, and more especially to a composition of matter for the mam head or bulb of double-dipped matches; that is to say, matches whereof the head comprises afirst dip or bulb which is ignitible by flame and not by rubbing friction, and a second dip or riming tip which is ignitible by rubbing riction.

The object of my invention is the provision of a match composition having quickdrying and high-heating properties, whereby economy in the manufacture of the matches is attained, whereby ready-ignition of the composition by the flame from the priming tip or second dip is efl'ected, and whereby quick-transmission of the fire from the composition to the match s lint is insured.

Broa ly considered my invention comprises a match composition having as an ingredient a mixture of a metal (or an alloy) and a metallic oxid which, when ignited,

mutually react and liberate a large amount of heat.

Amon thb metals that ma be used are finely divided aluminum an magnesium; among the alloys that ma be used in lieu of a metal are calcium silicon alloy, magnesium aluminum alloy, and calcium aluminum alloy, and among the metallic oxids that may be used are ferroso-ferric oxid;

ferric oxid: manganoso-man anic oxid,

manganese dioxid; chromic oxi vanadium pentoxid, and nickelic oxid.

An efficient typical mixture is the product commercially known as thermit which comprises finely divided aluminum and ma etic-oxid of iron 40%.

nother mixture which may also be advantageously used is the roduct commercially known as Jensen mixture, which comprises ma nesium 15%, silicon 10% and ma netic oxi of iron 75%.

other mixture which well fulfils the re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Application filed October 6, 1915. Serial No. 54,310.

quirements of my invention comprises calcium silicon alloy 30% and magnetic oxid of iron In preparing my improved match composition the amount of the usual oxidizing agent, such, for example, as chlorate of potash, ordinarily employed in match compositions is reduced, and a suitable proportion of a mixture of the character mentioned is added; the whole being intimately mixed with the other components of the composition and made into an aqueous paste of a consistency suitable for match heads.

A specific illustration of the constituent parts, by weight, of a typical composition embodying my invention is as follows:

Ther'mit 5 parts potassium chlorate 15 parts; combustible and flaming material 9 parts; filler 18 parts, and binder 8 parts.

The thermit, or equivalent mixture, may be incorporated with an oxidizing agent or agents other than potassium chlorate, such, for example, as barium chlorate or sodium chlorate, or a mixtureof chlorates.

It will be noted that the metals mentioned in each of the examples are such as will reduce the oxids mentioned, 2'. e., aluminum will reduce iron oxids (magnetic oxid). This is due to the fact that the heat of formation of aluminum oxid is reater than the heat of formation of magnetlc iron oxid.

, A mixture of metallic iron and aluminum oxid would not react to produce heat. Thereaction 3Fe,O,+8Al:4Al O,+9Fe is a strongly exothermic reaction, and is an example of the reactions taking place in the use of my invention. In the mixture of metals (or alloys) and oxids which I use, the metal used in the free state is one which gives an oxid having a higher heat of formation than the oxid employed.

By my improved composition above described match heads are produced which are instantl and smoothly ignited by the flame rom the priming tip; they immediately attain an exceedingly high'temperature upon ignition, and t ey quickly and efliciently transmit the fire to the mate splint. Moreover such heads when applied In the appended claims, the term metal is intended to cover single metals and also alloys.

I claim- 1. A match head having as an ingredient thereof, a mixture comprising a magnetic iron oxid and a metal whose normal oxid has a heat of formation greater than that of magnetic iron oxid.

2. A match head having-as an ingredient thereof, a mixture comprising aluminum and a metal oxid of which the heat of forilnation is lower thanthat'of aluminum 0x1 3. A match head having as an essential 15 constituent thereof, a mixture comprising aluminum and magnetic iron oxid.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 4th day of October A. D. 1915.

WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN. 

